Lobster, Caribbean Spiny – U.S. Florida

Caribbean Spiny Lobsters grow fast, are highly fecund (very fertile), and can live up to 20 years.

All U.S. catches of Caribbean Spiny Lobster occur in Florida. The abundance of Caribbean Spiny Lobster in Florida is uncertain, but the fishery is well-managed.

However the pots or traps used to catch them may damage the hard bottom, seagrass, and coral reef areas they are fished on. The fishery does occasionally catch sea turtles, but these catches are not having a negative impact on sea turtle populations.

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Fish Key:

Species has a combination of problems such as overfishing, high bycatch, and poor management.

Some problems exist with this species' status or catch methods, or information is insufficient for evaluating.

Species is relatively abundant, and fishing methods cause little damage to habitat and other wildlife.

A fishery targeting this species has been certified as sustainable and well managed to the Marine Stewardship Council's environmental standard. Learn more at http://www.msc.org.

These fish contain levels of mercury or PCBs that may pose a health risk to adults and children. Our source of information is http://seafood.edf.org/. We also recommend that you check local advisories.